Key Facts

Snapshot:	planter; owned slaves
Parents:	288Travis Thigpen His mother's identity is uncertain.
Born:	19 December 1792 Washington County, Georgia
Died:	26 July 1877 Emanuel County, Georgia
Buried:	Bethsaida Church cemetery, Treutlen County, Georgia Coordinates: N32.50629 W82.62461

144Melancton was born 19 December 17921 in Washington County,2 Georgia.2-5 His father is 288Travis Thigpen.6 His mother may be 288Travis' wife Hannah, but this isn't entirely certain as explained in the problem section below.

Problem: Unresolved Who is 144Melancton's mother? On 22 November 1823, 288Travis gifted 250 acres to his "loving sons William Thigpen & Calvin Thigpen." The deed also mentions "their mother Hannah Thigpin." Therefore, one may reasonably conclude that 288Travis was married to Hannah.7 The 1850 census shows William, age 49, and his mother Hannah, age 90, living together in Emanuel County, Georgia.8 Since William was born circa 1801, one can reasonably conclude that 288Travis and Hannah certainly had married by circa 1800. 144Melancton, however, was born in 1792,1 and I have been unable to find evidence to prove that 288Travis and Hannah were married at that time. If the abovementioned Calvin Thigpen were enumerated in a census, his age potentially could provide the necessary proof, but oddly I've been unable to find Calvin in any census.

144Melancton married 145Barbara Ricks2,9 on 20 March 1814.2.

Like all later records that I've found, the 1820 census shows 144Melancton living with his family in Emanuel County, Georgia.10 The woman age 10-15 is probably his wife 145Barbara, although her age seems to be reported wrong (It's inconsistent with later censuses, which are described below, and with what we know about their son 72Richard and his date of birth.)

1820: 144Melancton's family in Emanuel County in the 1820 census. Full page.10

By 1830 he had a few more children, plus two slaves. The 1830 census is the first record that shows him in militia district 395 (map).11 Whenever a militia district is specified in later records, it's always 395, so he likely lived there his whole life.

1830: 144Melancton's family in militia district 395 (map), Emanuel County, Georgia. Full page.11

1830: 144Melancton's slaves.11

The 1840 census shows that not much had changed.12

1840: 144Melancton's family in militia district 395 (map), Emanuel County, Georgia. Full page.12

1840: 144Melancton's slaves.12

The 1850 census is the first to mention 144Melancton's wife 145Barbara by name.3 You may also be interested in 144Melancton's 1850 farm schedule entry (1, 2).13

1850: 144Melancton's family in Emanuel County, Georgia. Full page.3

As of 1850, one of 144Melancton's three slaves was a runaway.14

1850: 144Melancton's slaves, including one fugitive. Full page.14

Beginning in 1850 144Melancton and his wife were plaintiffs in several probate-related lawsuits. The court records discuss the family relationships of the parties involved, the case's background, etc.; you can read abstracts here.9

An 1851 tax digest shows that 144Melancton owned 700 acres along/near Pendleton Creek and another 700 acres along/near Alligator Branch.15

1851: 144Melancton paid tax for his land in militia district 395. Full pages: 1, 2.15

144Melancton was on a grand jury for the Emanuel County Superior Court's September 1856 term. The jury signed a letter that was printed in Milledgeville's newspaper; you can read it here.16

The 1860 census shows that 144Melancton had acquired quite a few slaves since 1850. You may also be interested in his farm schedule entry (1, 2).17

1860: 144Melancton's family in militia district 395 (map), Emanuel County, Georgia. Full page.4

1860: 144Melancton's slaves. Full page.18

In 1867 the U.S. Congress passed several Reconstruction Acts. These Acts divided the former Confederacy into several military occupation zones, which were ruled by Union military commanders. The Acts also directed the commanding officers to register Southerners who wanted to vote in upcoming elections. One registration requirement was to swear an oath of loyalty to the United States; the obvious intent was to disfranchise any lingering Confederate resistance. 72Richard signed his oath on 24 July 1867.19

72Melancton's Reconstruction-era voter registration oath19

The 1870 census was the last to include 144Melancton.5 You may also be interested in his farm schedule entry (1, 2); you may notice that the value of his farm ($300)20 is considerably less than it had been in 1860 ($1000).17

Above: 144Melancton's family in the 1870 census. Full page.5

In a letter dated 12 April 1874 attorney John M. Stubbs of Dublin, Georgia wrote about "a very aged citizen of Emanuel County by name Melancton Thigpen whose father purchased the plantation in Montgomery formerly owned by Patrick McGriff [...]. He lives immediately in the corner of three counties of Laurens, Montgomery, and Emanuel and at least 20 miles from any post office [...]." 2 144Melancton is now buried about 0.9 miles northeast of what was (at that time) the corner of these three counties.1

144Melancton died 26 July 18771 and is buried beside his wife 145Barbara in the Bethsaida Church cemetery in Treutlen County, Georgia at coordinates N32.50629 W82.62461. Photos of his headstone and footstone are below.1

144Melancton's obituary was reportedly published in The Swainsboro Herald newspaper on 6 November 1877.2 Sadly, however, this newspaper is no longer extant: The Georgia Newspaper Project's index includes no editions of this newspaper whatsoever (from any date), and the author of a book about Emanuel County newspapers explicitly states that Emanuel County's newspapers from 1877-1900 were destroyed in a series of courthouse fires.21 Fortunately, 144Melancton's obituary was transcribed by an apparently somewhat contemporary researcher, and a transcription of his work is on file at the Georgia Archives. The obituary is copied below in full.2

Ohoopee, Georgia - September 25, 1877

Malancton Thigpen was born in Washington County, Georgia, December 19, 1792 and died in Emanuel County, July 26, 1877, age 84 years, 6 months and 7 days. He was confided to his bed only about 3 weeks. He suffered little pain. The manly fabric did not like many of us, "rust out," but wore out, bright to the last. About the year 1802 his father removed from Washington County, and settled near the Cow Ford, on the Little Ohoopee River in Emanuel County, Malanecton, then about 10 years old became familiar with the habits of the red man of the forest, who then roamed the country at will, not frequently startling the timid deer and sage matrons with the "war whoop," sounds which never failed to arouse the hardy sons of our frontier who being used to such, calmly smoked their clay pipes at the log cabin door, the deadly rifle carelessly lying across their laps, ready as the master's will for any emergency, and woe to the red skin that dared venture within range of its deadly aim. Amid such scenes was the early life of Malancton spent. No wonder then, that he should be infatuated with the life of the frontiersmen. The writer of these memories having sat for hours (taking notes) intently listening at the recital of the many thrilling scenes, remarkable adventures and hair breadth escapes with which his memory was so well stated, not exaggerations but truths, for be it known, that through a dong life of usefulness, he was far above the lie, or self aggrandizement. He was a man of worth, and scorned notoriety.

Malancton's father was County Surveyor, and Clerk of the Court of Emanuel County for several terms. This gave the young man many advantages, having access to the public records, by which he was enabled to store his ready witted mind with many lawful and useful facts, these proving, in after years, of value to himself, and highly beneficial to the frontier folks. One advantage among us was, "what Uncle Malancton said was so." The fraternity of lawyers lost dollars by his saying, “boys law is a bad place to settle; you had best settle your scrapes at home." Advice generally taken.

On the 20th day of March, 1814, Malancton was married to the young and blooming Barbary Ricks with whom he lived happily for 63 years 4 months and 6 days. She still survives. By her he had 11 children. 9 of them were alive at his death. One of his daughters died several years ago, and his youngest son, John, was wounded at the Ocean Pond fight in Florida, from which he shortly died. 91 grandchildren, of whom 74 are living, and 14 great grandchildren. These statistics about the children may possible not be correct, but they are the best I could obtain from the family, of whom I got them. Thus a gap is left in our community that can never be filled, we mourn, but not without hope. The noblest work of our God "an honest man," has left us.

The Dublin Gazette and Hawkinsville Dispatch will please copy, as many of the family connections are subscribers to those papers.

Each paper publishing this obituary will please send a copy to the State Historical Society of Wisconsin at Madison. By so doing they will confer a favor of the family.

James P. Bell

Despite the obituary document's slightly dubious origin and provenance, it's corroborated by the following notice, which was published in The Hawkinsville Dispatch a few days later,22 just as the letter's author had requested.2

This mention of 144Melancthon's death helps to prove the authenticity of the fuller obituary transcribed above. Full page.22

144Melancthon had written his will the previous year. You can read my transcription or the county record copy (pages 89, 90-91, and 92).23

His estate was inventoried about 3.5 months after his death. You can read it if you'd like (pages 5 and 6-7). Some of the more interesting items are books, two old guns, an old loom and gear, a meat mill, 17 geese, 60 chickens, 2 mares, 400 sheep, 55 cows, an ox cart and yoke, a sugar mill, a plow and related tools, carpentry tools, a watch, $577.87 in cash, and 870 acres of land in Emanuel County (valued at $1/acre).24

Sources Cited:

1: Tombstone of Melancthon Thigpen, Bethsaida Church Cemetery, Treutlen County, Georgia at coordinates N32.50629 W82.62461. Photographs taken by 1Bryant Knight, 26 April 2012.

2: A 10-page report titled "Colonel Patrick McGriff of Chester County, South Carolina and Montgomery County, Georgia" filed among a few other loose papers in the McGriff family surname file at the Georgia Archives. I've made a copy of select pages. My PDF file consists of 5 pages, which are copies of pages 1, 7, 8, 9, and 10, respectively, from the original 10-page report. 144Melancton's obituary is transcribed on report pages 9-10 (= PDF pages 4-5).

3: 1850 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). District 28, Emanuel County, Georgia. Pages 476B and 477A, dwelling 468, family 468, Malancton Thigpen household. NARA microfilm publication M432, roll 68. Ancestry.com, accessed 16 March 2012. The same record is also available on the Internet Archive: <https://archive.org/stream/7thcensus0056unit#page/n481/mode/1up> (page 476B) and <https://archive.org/stream/7thcensus0056unit#page/n482/mode/1up> (page 477A).

4: 1860 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Militia district 395, Emanuel County, Georgia. Page 890, dwelling 124, family 125, Melangton Thigpin household. NARA microfilm publication M653, roll 120. Ancestry.com, accessed 16 March 2012. The same record is also available on the Internet Archive: <https://archive.org/stream/populationschedu120unit#page/n353/mode/1up>.

5: 1870 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Emanuel County, Georgia. Page 357A, dwelling 384, family 384, Mellancon Thigpen household. NARA microfilm publication M593, roll 148. Ancestry.com, accessed 17 March 2012. The same record is also available on the Internet Archive: <https://archive.org/stream/populationschedu0148unit#page/n721/mode/1up>.

6: Emanuel County, Georgia. Wills and mixed records book A (1815-1868), pages 57-58. FamilySearch, <https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-30438-24316-76?cc=1999178&wc=9SBM-RMQ:267654801,267766101>

7: Emanuel County, Georgia. Wills and mixed records book A (1815-1868), pages 19-20. FamilySearch, <https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-30438-23938-59?cc=1999178&wc=9SBM-RMQ:267654801,267766101> (page 19) and <https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-30438-23873-63?cc=1999178&wc=9SBM-RMQ:267654801,267766101> (page 20).

8: 1850 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Emanuel County, Georgia. Page number illegible, dwelling 548, family 548, William Thigpen household. NARA microfilm publication M432, roll 68. FamilySearch, <https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11863-34051-1?cc=1401638>, accessed 25 February 2015.

9: Laurens County, Georgia. Superior Court. Petitions and Writs 1849-1852, pages 492-509. Abstracted in: Allen Thomas, Laurens County, Georgia, Legal Records, Superior Court, 1833-1857 (W. H. Wolfe Associates, 1993), pages 654-655.

10: 1820 U.S. Federal Census. Emanuel County, Georgia. Page 80, Malangton Thigpen household. NARA microfilm publication M33, roll 8. Ancestry.com, accessed 17 March 2012. The same record is also available on the Internet Archive: <https://archive.org/stream/populationsc18200006unit#page/n52/mode/1up>.

11: 1830 U.S. Federal Census. Militia district 395, Emanuel County, Georgia. Page 170, line 6, Melancton Thigpin household. NARA microfilm publication M19, roll 17. Internet Archive, <https://archive.org/stream/populationsc18300017unit#page/n345/mode/1up>, accessed 22 February 2015.

12: 1840 U.S. Federal Census. Militia district 395, Emanuel County, Georgia. Page 202, line 17, Melancton Thigpen household. NARA microfilm publication M704, roll 41. Ancestry.com, accessed 17 March 2012. The same record is also available on the Internet Archive: <https://archive.org/stream/populationsc18400041unit#page/n32/mode/1up> (whites) and <https://archive.org/stream/populationsc18400041unit#page/n33/mode/1up> (slaves).

13: 1850 U.S. Federal Census (Agriculture Schedule). Emanuel County, Georgia. Pages 235 and 236, entry 12, Melancton Thigpen farm. NARA microfilm publication T1137, roll 2. Copied 6 April 2012 from microfilm 2653, Genealogical & Historical Room, Washington Memorial Library, Macon, Georgia.

14: 1850 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). District 28, Emanuel County, Georgia. Page 11, slaves of Melancton Thigpen. NARA microfilm publication M432, roll 90. Ancestry.com. The same record is also available on the Internet Archive: <https://archive.org/stream/7thcensus0090unit#page/n273/mode/1up>.

15: Emanuel County, Georgia. Tax digest for 1851, militia district 395, n.p., Malancton Thigpin. Ancestry.com ("Georgia, Property Tax Digests, 1793-1893" / Emanuel County / 1851 / images 93 and 94 of 106), accessed 27 February 2013.

16: "Presentments Emanuel County, September Term Superior Court, 1856," Federal Union (Milledgeville, Georgia), 21 October 1856, page 3, column 5, starting at about halfway down the page and goes to the bottom.

17: 1860 U.S. Federal Census (Agriculture Schedule). Emanuel County, Georgia. Pages 125 and 126, entry 36, Melangton Thigpin farm. NARA microfilm publication T1137, roll 4. Copied 6 April 2012 from microfilm 2655, Genealogical & Historical Room, Washington Memorial Library, Macon, Georgia.

18: 1860 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Militia district 395, Emanuel County, Georgia. Page 99 (or 427C), slaves of Malangton Thigpen. NARA microfilm publication M653, roll 145. Ancestry.com. The same record is also available on the Internet Archive: <https://archive.org/stream/populationschedu145unit#page/n318/mode/1up>.

19: Georgia's 1867-1868 Voter Registration Oath Books. Volume 90 (Emanuel County Book 1), page 320, entry 639, Mellancton Thigpen. Ancestry.com, accessed 20 May 2012. The corresponding microfilm at the Georgia Archives is microfilm 296/36.

20: 1870 U.S. Federal Census (Agriculture Schedule). Emanuel County, Georgia. Pages 31 and 32, entry 1, Melancton Thigpen farm. NARA microfilm publication T1137, roll 7. Copied 6 April 2012 from microfilm 2658, Genealogical & Historical Room, Washington Memorial Library, Macon, Georgia.

21: James E. Dorsey, compiler, Emanuel County, Georgia, 1814-1900: A Collection of Newspaper Sources (Emanuel Historic Preservation Society, Swainsboro, Georgia, 1982), introduction page. Dorsey explains, "Since no newspaper was published in the county until 1877 (and those for 1877-1900 have been lost in a several courthouse fires), it was necessary to use printed accounts found in area and state newspapers."

22: The Hawkinsville Dispatch (Hawkinsville, Georgia), 15 November 1877, page 3, column 2, about 90% of the way down the page. Georgia Historic Newspapers, <https://gahistoricnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/lccn/sn85034070/1877-11-15/ed-1/seq-3/>, accessed 22 April 2024.

23: Emanuel County, Georgia. Wills book B (1857-1907), pages 89-93. FamilySearch, <https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-30438-24396-57?cc=1999178&wc=9SBM-RMW:267654801,267762701> et seq., accessed 25 October 2021.

24: 144Melancton Thigpen's estate inventory. Emanuel County, Georgia. Inventories & Appraisements 1877-1906, pages 5-7. FamilySearch, <https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-30441-6765-8?cc=1999178&wc=9SB9-4WL:267654801,267702101> (page 5) and <https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-30441-7025-44?cc=1999178&wc=9SB9-4WL:267654801,267702101> (pages 6 and 7).